On-line quizzes are associated with each week of activity in Moodle.  For most weeks the deadline is the second following Monday (e.g., week 1 quiz is due Week 3 Monday).  The exceptions are the last weeks of term. The quizzes are designed to check that you have done the reading and understood the concepts associated with each weeks' learning. As items of continuous assessment, each quiz is of small ‘value', but understanding each week’s material will lead to better assigment and exam scores! 

For each quiz: there is no time limit; 1 re-attempt of a quiz is allowed but not required; and there is a 20 minute enforced time period between attempts. The highest grade of the two attempts will be used in assessment.  Questions are generally multiple choice but include term matching and calculations.

The questions in each quiz are taken from a question bank, so you may not get the same questions the second time you take the quiz. All quizzes must be attempted.

 Multiple choice / matching term / calculation answer questions will be automatically marked as correct or incorrect. 

The 'Making Sense of Plant Processes' assessment item is meant to check and demonstrate your progress in various plant topics covered in the unit to the point of submission.

This assessment item is comprised of a number of tasks, including calculations and descriptive/interpretive short answers. It will cover material presented in Weeks 1 - 10. The specific questions will be posted on the Moodle site by the end of Week 2. Start this assessment right away and keep on top of it. Don't wait for the last week to do it!

Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will NOT be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g. jpegs) in the word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone, or use SnagIt or similar (remember to attribute your sources). Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them. Blurred or blank images are not acceptable. Also (although obvious, its an issue each year...) ...remember to number your answers (keyed to questions). 

For calculation based tasks, marks are awarded for:

1. a statement of the principle and key relationship (20%);

2. clear step by step calculations, with explanation and unit analysis (60%);

3. the correct numerical answer (20%).

For descriptive/interpretative tasks cite and reference relevant supporting information and interpret it in the context of your response to the question asked. Marks are awarded for:

1. the quality of the background review, including a definition of the topic (30%);

2. the discussion of this information in context of the question asked (50%);

3. and the clarity of English expression, spelling, grammar, accuracy of referencing, appropriate length (20%).

Two practical reports (1000 words each, excluding references, figure captions, tables and title page) are required in the format of a scientific paper or technical report. Each will describe one of the experiments undertaken at residential school. The choice of the exercises undertaken during Residential School will be discussed at the School. These reports will each 'stand alone', but should be submitted as one document (with one section for each report).

Please submit your answers in a Word document (doc, docx or rtf). PDF documents will NOT be accepted. You can perform calculations or draw figures by hand and insert them as images (e.g. jpegs) in the word document. If you don’t have a scanner – take a photo on your mobile phone. You must make sure we know what question you're answering by putting the question number in front of the text. Please consider redrafting your calculations for clarity before photographing/scanning them. Blurred or blank images in the word document are not acceptable.

The reports will not be assessed on the 'success' of the experiment. Assessment will be based on:

1. structure (as a scientific or technical report, with Title, Abstract, Keywords, Introduction, Materials and Methods, Results and Discussion, Acknowledgements, References, Appendices (if any));

2. demonstration and explanation of calculations, with explanation of units in each step;

3. appropriate data analysis;

4. interpretation of data in the discussion section, with reference to existing knowledge.

5. correct citations